Vacuum-indicating two-part tamper-proof closure and combination



May 13, 1969 o. w. OLSON VACUUM-INDICATING TWO- PART TAMPERPROOF CLOSUREAND COMBINATION Filed Aug. 29. 1967 P a n e v n I DAVID W. OLSON UnitedStates Patent 3,443,711 VACUUM-INDICATING TWO-PART TAMPER- PROOF CLOSUREAND COMBINATION David W. Olson, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to AbbottLaboratories, North Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug.29, 1967, Ser. No. 664,118 Int. Cl. B65d 53/02, 55/02; A61j 1/00 U.S.Cl. 2157 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container closure havinga primary cap seal and a secondary overcap overlying the primary capseal. Both caps are sealed to a container with the space between the twobeing evacuated so that a leak at either the primary cap seal or theovercap will deflect the top of the overcap upwardly, giving a visualindication of leakage.

Background of the invention Fluid administration solutions, which areadministered intravenously, for example, require the utmost care intheir preparation. Even if carefully prepared and sterilized prior toshipment, such solutions may become contaminated if during shipment orsubsequent handling the airtight closure or seal is broken. If the sealis only slightly broken so that it is not readily apparent, the solutionmay be administered to a patient with potentially adverse effects.

Summary The present invention provides a two-part container closure fora non-vacuum container which can be evacuated in the space between thetwo portions thereof. A

primary cap seal is afiixed to a container-for example, the finish of abottle-to directly seal the container. A secondary overcap having adeflectable top is sealed to the container overlying the primary seal,and the space between the two portions is evacuated. Such a closure hasa number of attendant advantages. It provides a visual method of leakdetection for a non-vacuum container since a leak at either the primarycap seal or the secondary overcap seal will deflect the overcap upwardlygiving a visual indication of leakage; by applying the overcap prior toautoclaving of the container, the present closure provides a method ofmaintaining a sterile condition in the thread area of a bottle finish;the double sealing surface provides added assurance againstcontamination entering the container at the seal; the closure provides atamperproof feature since once the overcap seal has been broken theupper portion of the overcap will assume a dome-shaped configuration.The overcap also provides protection of the primary cap seal againstmechanical damage.

Drawings The device will be better understood upon consideration of thefollowing description with reference to the following drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevational view in crosssection of theclosure of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view in cross-section of the secondaryovercap portion of the closure with the upper portion thereof deflectedupwardly.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the closure aflixed to the finishof a bottle.

FIGURE 4 is a top elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view in cross-section of anotherembodiment of the secondary overcap portion of the closure and designedfor roll-on application.

3,443,711 Patented May 13, 1969 Detailed description Referring to FIGURE1, there is shown a two-part closure 10 comprising a primary cap seal 11which directly seals the container 12 and a secondary overcap 13 whichis also sealed to the container 12 overlying the primary cap seal 11.The primary cap seal 11 is provided with a gasket 14 of an elastomericmaterial such as rubber. When the closure is used with a containerhaving an intravenous solution therein, a plastic membrane, made of aplastic which is compatible with the solution, should be used as thegasket 14. If desired, a metal slip ring 15 may be inserted between thegasket 14 and the top portion 16 of the primary cap seal 11. Such a slipring will relieve the stress when the cap seal 11 is being removed andthereby minimize the possibility of small pieces of material being tornfrom the gasket 14 and dropping into the contents of the container 12.As illustrated, the primary cap seal 11 is a conventional screw-type capand is aflixed to the neck 17 of a bottle 12, the neck having ascrew-thread 18 thereon. Overlying the primary cap seal 11 is asecondary overcap 13, which may be secured to the container 12 by anyconventional retention means, such as projecting beads, shoulders, orscrew-threads. FIG- URE 1, for example, shows the overcap 13 secured toa shoulder 19 while FIGURE 3 shows the overcap 13 secured to aprojecting head 20. A gasket 21 of sealing material is interposedbetween the shoulder 19 or bead 20 on the bottle 12 and the bottom lip22 of the overcap 13. Since the overcap 13 does not come into contactwith the fluid or solution within the container 12, the gasket 21 may bemade of any suitable material and need not be compatible with thecontents of the container 12. Accordingly, the gasket 21 may be made ofany suitable rubber or other resilient material which will effectivelyseal the overcap 13 to the container 12. The secondary overcap 13comprises a depending skirt portion 23 having a bottom lip 22 which maybe curled, as shown, to provide additional strength and a defiectabletop panel portion 24. The top panel portion 24 in turn comprises anannular shoulder portion 25 and a circular central portion 26 which isnormally positioned in the concave configuration as shown in FIGURES 1,3, 6, and 7 when a vacuum is evident in the space 27 between the twoseals of the closure. The central portion 26 of the overcap seal may beformed of a thinner cross-section in comparison to the wall or skirtportion 23 to facilitate its flexibility and thereby enhance its abilityto assume different positions under varying conditions of pressure.Additionally, the periphery 28 of the central portion 26 may beweakened, as by a score line, to further facilitate the deflectability.Thus, when a leak occurs so that the vacuum in the evacuated space 27between the two seals is lost, the central portion 26 of the top panel24 of the secondary overcap seal 13 will spring upwardly to assume theposition shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1 or as shown in FIG- URES 2and 5. A visual indication of a leak in the seal is thereby provided.The secondary overcap seal 13 may be formed with a lip portion 22, and,together with the gasket 21, may be snapped onto the container or it maybe formed with a straight depending skirt 29 as illustrated by FIGURE 5and then rolled onto the finish of a bottle as shown in FIGURE 6. Whenthe overcap 13 is aflixed to the container in this fashion, anappropriate retaining groove 30 must be formed in the finish of thebottle, as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

If desired, the two portions of the closure comprising the primary capseal 11 and the secondary overcap seal 13 may be formed as a singlepiece or as a unitary structure as shown in FIGURE 7. As illustrated,the two portions of the closure are united by a connecting member 31which has a small opening therein to permit evacuation of the space 27between the two portions of the closure. The closure is afiixed to thecontainer 12 by conventional methods by crimping the depending flange 33of the closure onto the container 12. A gasket 21 may be employed toensure an effective seal. Such a one-piece structure is advantageous inthat it can be affixed to the container in essentially a one-stepprocess. To facilitate removal of the closure when it is desired to usethe contents of the container 12, circumferentially-weakened portions34, 35 may be formed in the depending walls of either of the twoportions of the closure so that the closure can be easily ruptured andremoved.

To obtain a vacuum in the space 27 between the two portions of theclosure, affixing of the closure 10 to the container 12 can be performedunder vacuum conditions so that air is withdrawn prior to theapplication of the secondary overcap 13 or prior to application of theonepiece embodiment of the closure illustrated in FIGURE 7.Alternatively, steam can be introduced into the area about the containeropening onto which the closure is affixed. Again, the steam isintroduced prior to the application of the secondary overcap with thetwo-piece unit or prior to the application of the one-piece closure. Inthis fashion, steam is entrapped in the space 27 between the twoportions of the closure which, upon cooling of the closure andcontainer, condenses, thereby producing a vacuum in the closure.

The closures of the present invention are particularly advantageous foruse with non-evacuated containers. Vacuum containers, upon being openedso that the vacuum seal is broken, will draw air into the container andthereby possibly draw in foreign particles. Fluid administrationsolutions are therefore generally packed in non-evacuated containers tominimize the danger of drawing in foreign particles upon opening.

Others can readily adapt the present invention in other specific formsby employing one or more of the novel features disclosed, or equivalentsthereof. All such practice of the invention is considered to be a parthereof provided it falls within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A two-part closure for sealing the opening of a container comprising:a primary cap seal for directly sealing the container opening; asecondary overcap seal adapted to overlie the primary cap seal when saidovercap is affixed to the container; the overcap, when aflixed to thecontainer, defining a space between the primary cap and the overcap; thesecondary overcap having a depending skirt portion adapted forengagement with retention means on the container to hold the overcap ina sealed relation in an overlying position over the primary cap seal andhaving a deflectable top panel portion responsive to varying conditionsof pressure within the space between the primary cap seal and secondaryovercap seal when said seals are affixed to a container.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the top panel portion of the secondaryovercap seal includes an annular shoulder portion and an adjacentdeflectable circular central portion normally positioned in a concaveconfiguration when the closure is afiixed to a container and a vacuum isevident in the space between the two seals of the closure.

3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the deflectable circular centralportion has a thinner cross-section in relation to the annular shoulderportion and is joined thereto by a weakened portion, to therebyfacilitate the deflectability of the circular central portion inresponse to varying conditions of pressure.

4. The closure of claim 3 having a circumferentially weakened portion inthe depending skirt portion of the overcap seal to facilitate removalthereof after the closure is afiixed to a container.

5. A one-piece closure for sealing the opening of a containercomprising: a primary cap seal for directly sealing the containeropening; a secondary overcap seal overlying the primary cap seal andjoined thereto by a connecting member; the overcap and connecting memberdefining an enclosed space between the primary cap and the overcap; theclosure having a depending flange adapted for engagement with retentionmeans on the container to hold the closure in a sealed relationship tothe container; the secondary overcap having a deflectable top panelportion responsive to varying conditions of pressure within the spacedefined by the primary cap seal, overcap seal, and connecting member.

6. The closure of claim 5 wherein the top panel portion of the secondaryovercap seal includes an annular shoulder portion and an adjacentdeflectable circular central portion normally positioned in a concaveconfiguration when a vacuum is evident in the space between the twoseals of the closure.

7. A combination comprising: a container and a closure therefor, saidcontainer having an opening defined by a neck portion, the neck providedwith retention means for engagement with the closure, the closurecomprising a primary cap seal directly sealing the container opening; asecondary overcap seal overlying the primary cap seal, the secondaryovercap having a depending skirt portion adapted for engagement with theretention means on the container neck to hold the overcap in a sealedrelation in an overlying position over the primary cap seal and defininga space between the primary cap and the overcap, said overcap having adeflectable top panel portion responsive to varying conditions ofpressure within the space between the primary cap seal and the secondaryovercap seal.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the top panel portion of thesecondary overcap seal includes an annular shoulder portion and anadjacent defiectable circular central portion normally positioned in aconcave configuration when a vacuum is evident in the space between thetwo seals of the closure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,430 1/1936 Hansen.2,131,969 10/1938 Podel 2l543X 2,253,023 8/1941 Fabrice.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 215-43

